Special feature: pharmacotherapy in personality disorders

Recent epidemiological and psychobiological studies indicate that psychopharmacology is promising, even for the treatment of personality disorders. Psychotropic drugs may have positive effects on personality disorders that show a close-relationship to Axis I disorders (e.g., schizotypal personality...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality disorders 1998-09, Vol.12 (3), p.277-288
Main Authors: Kapfhammer, H P, Hippius, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Anxiety Disorders
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Comorbidity
Conceptual Tempo
Drug Therapy
Humans
Inhibition
Narcotics
Patients
Personality
Personality Disorders - drug therapy
Personality Problems
Personality Traits
Pharmacology
Psychiatry
Psychometrics
Schizophrenia
Self Control
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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Summary:Recent epidemiological and psychobiological studies indicate that psychopharmacology is promising, even for the treatment of personality disorders. Psychotropic drugs may have positive effects on personality disorders that show a close-relationship to Axis I disorders (e.g., schizotypal personality disorder--schizophrenia simplex; avoidant personality disorder--generalized social phobia; borderline personality disorder--affective disorders, etc.). In addition, psychotropic drugs may influence certain psychopathological symptom clusters (e.g., cognitive-perceptual organization, impulsivity/aggressivity, affective instability, anxiety/inhibition) present in various disorders. Psychotropic drugs may also be indicated when psychiatric comorbidity exists. The results of clinical pharmacological studies are reviewed with reference to cluster A, B, and C personality disorders. Some guidelines can be drawn from these trials. Clinically, the use of psychotropic drugs in symptomatic crises should be considered, especially when a secondary psychiatric comorbidity exists. Pharmacotherapy is well indicated for personality disorders closely associated with Axis I disorders. Usually pharmacotherapy is short term, although in some cases long-term treatment may be promising. However, pharmacotherapy must always refer to a supportive therapeutic interaction between physician and patient.
ISSN:0885-579X
1943-2763
DOI:10.1521/pedi.1998.12.3.277